Happy World Spine Day! Never heard of it before? Let us introduce you…
World Spine Day acknowledges, celebrates and educates on spinal health. Rehabilitation and exercise experts, health professionals, public health advocates and the wider public are just some of those who get involved in spreading the word. Celebrations are extended worldwide to reflect the importance of spinal health.
Celebrated on the 16th of October every year, World Spine Day has been coordinated by the World Federation of Chiropractic since 2008! Not only does this date aim to raise awareness about the significance of spinal health and wellbeing, but it also brings light to the effect of spinal pain and disability on peoples’ lives.
How to Avoid Spinal Issues
In light of World Spine Day, we wanted to give you some key info, along with some tips, tricks and must-do’s for maintaining a healthy spine.
The World Spine Day organisation promotes the essentials when it comes to spinal care: maintaining good posture, exercising regularly, and facilitating ergonomic spaces. This might mean ensuring your workplace setup (specifically if you work at a desk), is supportive of your natural curves, and to avoid what is referred to as ‘tech neck’ (deformed posture from excessive leaning forward, as a result of using technology, such as phones and computers, for prolonged periods throughout our lives).
How Can Touch Tuina Help?
At Touch Tuina, we have a range of methods that we’d use to address issues with the spine and to maintain a healthy one.
1. Tuina Massage
Of course, our Tuina massage can help spinal conditions. Our practitioners will gauge the state of the spine at the beginning of your session, then use the techniques they feel necessary to aid the issue.
2. Gua Sha Therapy
Gua Sha stimulates blood flow, increasing circulation, releasing fascial adhesions and stimulating the nervous system. The spinal cord being a crucial part of the nervous system, Gua Sha can help to reduce tension, pain and a healthy spine.
3. Electro Spinal Acupuncture & Dolphin Neurostim Therapy
Electroacupuncture is essentially acupuncture but with a low-level electrical current passed through the needles to enhance the therapeutic effects. The process resets the ergo receptors within muscle tissue, which then feedback signals to the spinal cord and the brain.
The Dolphin Neurostim therapy is a great option for those who don’t particularly like needles. Not only that – it offers microcurrent point stimulation (MPS) and is the world’s first device specifically designed to reduce sympathetic stress for the reduction of soft tissue pain.
4. Decompression
At Touch Tuina we can use our decompression machine to help create spaces between vertebrae, which can influence spinal health. We also have a range of methods, exercises and stretches that can do just that, including the Cobra Method and our neck and spinal decompression stretch.
5. Skeletal Strength
Skeletal Strength is a supplement that nourishes the structural system, including bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and skin. It also helps maintain and repair these tissues. Providing vitamins and minerals that are critical for bone health, including (but not limited to) calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin D, this supplement is a fantastic option for maintaining a healthy spine.
We have many other methods and tools that we use to aid the healing and maintenance of spines and spinal issues. If you’d like to find out more about any of the treatments, methods or supplements that we have on offer, contact us today and we’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.
What can you do at home?
Things you can do at home to help maintain your spine include regular and safe stretching, yoga, sitting at a supportive chair, being mindful of your posture, and making sure you take regular breaks to stretch and move your body throughout the day. You can also try out our Stretch of the Month that targets the decompression of the spine.
The Importance of World Spine Day
Spinal health is extremely important in leading a happy, healthy and comfortable life. As we age, it becomes more important to maintain and take care of our spines. After all, they connect our brains with the rest of our bodies!
Considering this, we think it’s fantastic that World Spine Day exists, and that health professionals, governments and everyday people around the globe are doing their bit to promote the health and wellbeing of this significant body part.
To find out more about World Spine Day, visit the organisation’s website to read about all its work. If you’d like to experience the spinal benefits of a Tuina treatment yourself, get in touch with a clinic near you to book an appointment!
